Fantasy Baseball 2018 Debate: Dansby Swanson or Amed Rosario?

The Braves and Mets each have a young shortstop to build around. Who would you build your fantasy baseball team around, Dansby Swanson or Amed Rosario?

The Atlanta Braves and New York Mets are to rebuilding teams in the National League East. The teams are looking to improve by developing their teams through the farm systems. Both teams have young shortstops with high ceilings. If you could only draft one for your fantasy baseball team, do you pick Dansby Swanson or Amed Rosario?

Swanson started his MLB career with the Arizona Diamondbacks before being traded to Atlanta as a part of the Shelby Miller trade in December 2015. He didn’t make his debut until Aug. 17, 2016. Rosario, on the other hand, was signed by the Mets in 2012 and joined the MLB roster on Aug. 1, 2016.

Both hitters haven’t shown much so far in their young careers, but they’ll get there. They didn’t have great plate discipline but at just 23 and 21 years old, respectively, there is a lot to look forward to.

Dansby Swanson

Swanson played in 38 games in 2016. He hit .302 with three home runs and 17 RBI. He also had a .361 on-base percentage with 34 strikeouts, 13 walks and three steals. The contact was good to see but the lack of plate discipline was something that needed work. He had a 45.2 swing percentage and 62.1 first-pitch strike rate.

More from Fantasy Baseball

• 5 fantasy baseball waiver wire pivots to replace Triston McKenzie
• Fantasy baseball mock draft 2023, 12-team: Aaron Judge over Trea Turner?
• 3 fantasy baseball sleepers being drafted too late
• NBA DFS picks December 25: Merry Bucking Christmas
• Fantasy Baseball: Hot pitchers worthy of starting this weekend

Even with the small sample size, Swanson was the 16th shortstop drafted in ESPN leagues this season. He played in 144 games, finishing with a .232/.312/.324 line with six home runs, 17 RBI and 59 runs scored.

Swanson’s swinging strike rate went down a little, but it was still close to 10 percent. He saw slight improvements in his O-Swing, contact and first-pitch strike rates. But only by tenths of a point.The potential is there,

The potential is there, evident by his batted ball stats, but the counting stats just haven’t shown up. I think that changes in 2018.

Amed Rosario

Rosario has just 46 games under his belt, so it may be a little unfair to compare him to someone with 140 more games. Yet, with the age and guaranteed playing time, the comparisons make sense.

Rosario hit .248 with four home runs, 10 RBI and 16 runs scored. He also had a 49:3 K:BB ratio and seven steals in 10 attempts. By the end of the season, his fantasy ownership was up to 38 percent. It’s not that high but it shows that fantasy owners are ready to buy into him.

Looking at his minor-league numbers, Rosario wasn’t known for being a patient hitter. He had a 5.97 walk rate in the minors. He was swinging at over 50 percent of balls pitched to him and getting a first-pitch strike on 68.8 percent of his at-bats.

I think Rosario is in the worst situation between the two. The offense around him isn’t as good. Yoenis Cespedes is the team’s best hitter but he has a hard time staying healthy. The Mets traded most of their other good hitters at the deadline.

Next: Brandon Kintzler: The closer no one wants to own

Entering the 2018 season, Swanson will have the higher ADP. Both shortstops will be drafted in NL-only leagues but I like the potential of Swanson more in mixed leagues. He has a great supporting cast around him and has shown improvements year over year.

Rosario will get there, it just may take a little longer. If he can develop more contact and maintain his speed, both players could be in the top-15 in a couple of years.